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GEORGE JMASON. 
Portrait by Gilbert Stuart. 



GEORGE MASON 

OF VIRGINIA 



Citizen 
Statesman 
Philosopher 



BY 

ROBERT C. MASON 



An Address Commemoratioe of the Launching 

of tile S. S. "Gunston Hall" at Alexandria, 

Virginia, January, 1919 



NEW YORK 

OSCAR AURELIUS MORGNER 

EIGHTY LAFAYETTE STREET 

MCMXIX 



C ^61 



Copyright, igig. 



\l'- 



Prinled January, igig. 
Edition, looo Copies. 



^CLA5I243 



'T'VO 



DEDICATED 

TO THE 

LARES ET PENATES" 

ET 

"DII MANES" 

OF 

ANCESTRAL 

AND 

FAMILY DEVOTION 



^■^^ 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER I— THE CITIZEN Page 13, 

CHAPTER II— THE STATESMAN Page 15 

CHAPTER III— THE PHILOSOPHER .... Pag^ 24 
CORRESPONDENCE Page 47 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

George Mason Frontispiece 

GuNSTON Hall about 1825 Page v 

The S. S. "Gunston Hall" Page i 

GuNSTON Hall in 1919 Page 10 

*Tro Patria Semper" Page 12 

Robert C. Mason Page 1 5 

Facsimile "Virginia Bill of Rights " Page 20 

Facsimile of Letter from Woodrow Wilson. .Pa;?€ 5 1 

Honorable Colin H. Livingstone Page 52 

Benjamin W. Morse Page 54 



"GUNSTON HALL" 

The broad Potomac winds its way 

By murmuring tarn and moss-grown wall, 

Through mountain, hill and meadow land, 
And flows, at length, by Gunston Hall, 

Where Hero, patriot, statesman, sage, 
For truth and freedom risked his all; 

Home, honor, freedom, life itself. 
Were nobly staked at Gunston Hall. 

The Shield that braved a Monarch's wrath. 

The bugle of the clarion call. 
The sword that smote a tyrant's crown. 

Were swiftly forged at Gunston Hall. 

And when the mighty war was o'er, 
And freedom gained for one and all, 

Back to their father's home returned 
The valiant sons of Gunston Hall. 

The modest maiden, virtuous, fair. 
The stalwart youth so strong and tall. 

Plighted their vows and pledged their truth 
Amid the bowers of Gunston Hall. 

The matron spun the golden fleece, 
The loom responded to the call, 

The distaff and the spindle whirred 
Their ceaseless rounds in Gunston Hall. 

The generations came and went — 
Wives, mothers, daughters, sisters all. 

Husbands and fathers, brothers, sons, 
Lived, loved and wed at Gunston Hall. 

The years creep on with noiseless tread. 

As silently the ages fall; 
The centuries have left their stains 

Upon the stones of Gunston Hall. 

When worldly pleasures fail to please. 
When wealth and earthly honors pall, 

When duty points to nobler aims. 
Go, stranger, visit Gunston Hall. 




srt. 



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1 s 

— d 



GEORGE MASON 



CHAPTER FIRST 

The Citizen 

In presenting to my fellow citizens this brief Eulogy 
as a Memorial and tribute to the memory of an illus- 
trious American citizen, patriot and statesman, I am 
conscious of performing an exalted public duty, as well 
as discharging a pleasing domestic obligation. 

As the wife of our honored President named the first 
ship to be built at Alexandria, Virginia, in memory of 
the old homestead of George Mason, and the President 
honored the occasion by driving the first rivet, we 
thought it advisable to embrace the opportunity to 
present to the present generation of our people the prin- 
cipal events in the life of this eminent American citizen. 

Mason created, Jefferson proclaimed, Marshall in- 
terpreted and Washington administered the Declara- 
tion of Independence and the Constitution of the 
United States. 

The triune principles of our Federal Government, 
legislative, judicial and executive, mutually inter- 
dependent and co-operative, were the creation of the 
genius of George Mason, and entitle his memory to 
immortality. 

On these political principles now depends the freedom 
of the world. Our nation is in arms to defend, uphold 
and enforce them, therefore it is advisable that the 
great man from whose mind issued these principles 
should be better known to the Americans of this day 
and generation. 

His modesty refused to accept the honor and glory 
of having given birth to these principles, but the illus- 
trious example he set as a citizen, statesman, patriot 
and philosopher should not be permitted to perish. 

I desire to express gratitude and appreciation to the 
" First Lady of the Land," Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, wife 
of our illustrious President, for the honor she has ac- 
corded the memory of George Mason, and the pleasure 

in 



GEORGE MASON 



she has thereby conferred upon his descendants by 
naming this ship in memory of his old home, " Gunston 
Hall." 

I desire to thank His Excellency, the Honorable 
Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States, for 
driving the first rivet in this good ship. The occasion 
was memorable. It was the first time in the history of 
our country that the President of the United States, 
in his official capacity, honored the memory of a private 
citizen, who occupied no oflficial position in the public 
life of our Nation, and whose moral worth and intel- 
lectual attainments alone recommended him to his day 
and generation. 

I desire to thank the President, the officers and di- 
rectors, the captains of industry, and the working men 
who have been instrumental in building this splendid 
ship as an addition to our Merchant Marine, and their 
first contribution toward our commercial supremacy on 
the high seas. 

I congratulate the city of Alexandria on securing the 
services of these men ; their ability and integrity consti- 
tute a guaranty of a renewal of the prosperity to which 
the famous old city of Alexandria, by reason of its his- 
torical and commercial importance in the early history 
of our country, is so justly entitled. 

I wish to thank the Hon. C. C. Carlin, Representative 
in Congress for the Alexandria District of Virginia, for 
the inspiring motive which led him to request the 
naming of this ship in honor of "Gunston Hall." 

I desire to felicitate the gracious lady and honored 
gentleman who now preside over the destinies of Guns- 
ton Hall. The sacred dust and hallowed memory of its 
original owner render this old mansion house the shrine 
of pilgrimage to the devout friends of freedom. 

If the life of this good ship now about to be launched 
upon the great waters and enter into the Merchant Ma- 
rine service of this nation is to bear any relation to the 
lifetime of the famous old home of George Mason, she 
need have no fear of submarines. If she performs the 
use and service upon the ocean which "Gunston Hall" 



The Citizen 



has performed upon the land, great will be her fame and 
glory. Six generations have lived, loved and wed in 
" Gunston Hall," and from its stately portals issued the 
• spirit of freedom that overthrew autocracy in the new 
world and established democracy on the sure founda- 
tions of truth and justice, law and order, prosperity and 
peace. 

George Mason, Virginia Planter, Statesman, and 
Political Philosopher, was the first great citizen of 
America, and the most notable Democrat in the 
world. 

Author of the "Virginia Bill of Rights," virtually the 
"Constitution of Virginia," promulgated on the 29th 
day of June, 1776, five days before Jefferson issued his 
Declaration of Independence, and embodying the first 
written Organic Law that established the three-fold di- 
vision of Governmental Powers, Legislative, Judiciary 
and Executive. Consequently to George Mason his- 
tory will finally award the immortal honor of having 
created the first and greatest "charter of human 
liberty" ever issued from the mind of man. 

George Mason was the first to declare and affirm, by 
precept and example, the Democratic principle that the 
Citizen is ex-officio the embodiment of constituted au- 
thority, the source and center of law and order, the 
fountain and wellspring from whence issues the living 
waters of justice and equity, freedom and equality; con- 
sequently the Alpha and Omega of honor and dignity, 
dispensing those gifts to his public officials, ministers 
and functionaries of the state, according to his good will 
and pleasure, in proportion to their worthiness and 
service to him, the citizen. 

He declared that in a Republic the citizen is himself 
the State. This is Democracy. Its opposite is Autoc- 
racy. George Mason not only believed and proclaimed 
this principle of government, but he exemplified it by 
the living experience of his life and conduct. He set the 
glorious example of refusing the highest political honors 
in the gift of the people which not only could have been 
his for the asking, but which his contemporaries ear- 



3] 



GEORGE MASON 



nestly besought and would fain have compelled him to 
accept. 

He preferred to remain that "Lord of Creation," the 
American Citizen, whose dignity and honor are above 
all Principalities and Powers. The '" American Citi- 
zen" is the Republic itself, and the tribunal of his 
authority is set above the Throne of Kings. 

The genuine spirit of Democracy lodges in and makes 
its lawful and permanent abiding place in the political 
body of the people of whom the individual is the type 
and representative. Guided by this principle, our an- 
cestors in their profound, political wisdom placed all con- 
stituted power and legitimate authority in the people 
from whence it issues, and unto whom it must return. 

Therefore, the founders of this Republic reserved the 
highest office in the gift of the people for the most 
worthy and honored citizen of their Democracy. Con- 
sequently, when we, their descendants, exercising the 
prerogative and duties of American citizens, \vish to 
supremely honor and exalt one of our number, we elect 
him President of the United States. 

Thereupon we entrust him, within the functions as- 
signed, supreme power and authority, and erect the Presi- 
dential seat, not over our heads nor on our shoulders, 
but in our hearts. 

Such was the Democracy of George Mason. George 
Washington, his life-long companion, friend and neigh- 
bor, once said to him: " Mr. Mason, what service in the 
power of the people can I bestow upon you?" Mr. 
Mason answered, "Your service as President of the 
United States, Mr. Washington." 

This was the finest answer ever made by Democracy 
to Authority. It paid the highest compliment to the 
ability and integrity of Washington, while proclaiming 
the citizen politically his official superior. 

George Mason set the highest example of a free-born 
and liberty-loving American citizen by meeting all men 
on the level of their intrinsic mental and moral worth 
without regard to their wealth, social standing, or 
political station. 



[4] 



The Citizen 



''The brief authority of a little day" confers no 
lasting greatness. Service to humanity alone entitles 
the victor to the crown of immortality. Those who 
come after us will determine the measure of our useful- 
ness and the degree of honor to which our memory is 
justly entitled. 

There is an equality of freedom, and there is a free- 
dom of equality. The former is granted by natural 
right to mankind and is conferred on all by the prin- 
ciples of our Democracy. The latter can only be at- 
tained by ability, integrity, mental and moral worth. 
It cannot be granted or imposed by statutory law. 
Such were the moral sentiments and political principles 
of George Mason. 

He regarded the spirit of ambition as opposed to the 
welfare of human society. Subordinated to use, it 
serves a good purpose, but in itself it is infernal. It 
aspires to dominion over the bodies and souls of men; 
would seize their possessions, and make them slaves. 

Ambition hates superiors, despises inferiors and seeks 
to destroy equals. It dreads equality. It was the 
spirit of dominion, the ambition to rule or ruin, and the 
lust for power that extinguished the moral precepts of 
the Decalogue in the heart and mind of a nation, estab- 
lished brute force in might supreme, and led to this 
direful war. 

George Mason denied this evil principle and reso- 
lutely opposed the seeking of glory, or power from this 
source. Honor and fame originating in good use and 
service to others he approved. In his last will and 
testament he enjoins upon his descendants earnestly to 
abstain from seeking public office, or indulging in po- 
litical ambition, when such abstinence is compatible 
with their duties and responsibihties as citizens of the 
state. But should the voice of duty call and " the office 
seek the man," he adjures them never to decline any 
duty or personal sacrifice when called upon by the 
public service. His coat of arms bears the inscription, 
"Pro Patrio Semper" (everything for country). 

[5] 



GEORGE MASON 



The inspiration of his life has been a great incentive 
to his descendants to abstain from ambition, and live 
useful and honored lives. Those of them who have 
hearkened to his words and followed his advice have 
lived, beloved and honored of their fellow-citizens. 
Numbers of them are now on the battlefields in France, 
and some of them have given their lives for freedom. 

The life of George Mason was calm and dignified. 
He was older than the majority of his contemporaries, 
the fathers and founders of the American Republic, who 
came to him for advice, instruction and assistance. 

His career was not spectacular, nor was his record 
emblazoned where multitudes could see and admire. 
Others reaped where he had sown, but his place in his- 
tory is fixed and secure. Students and statesmen still 
follow where he once led, and America today proclaims 
his principles of political equality and the spirit of 
liberty that inspired him now animates the armies of 
freedom and leads them on to Victory over the foes of 
Democracy. 

It is easy to be a descendant; diflScult to be an an- 
cestor. Napoleon, when conversing with the Emperor 
of Austria, was rebuked by the latter for his presump- 
tion in magnifying himself and recounting his great 
deeds in the presence of a Monarch who counted him- 
self descended from Julius Caesar. 

"General," said the Emperor, "you have performed 
distinguished deeds, certainly, but on what ground do 
you base your claims to sit upon a throne? Now, I am 
a descendant of sixty kings and can trace my ancestry 
directly to Julius Caesar." 

Napoleon answered, "Your Majesty is indeed a De- 
scendant, but I am an ancestor, and sixty generations 
from now my descendants will be as proud of me as you 
are of Julius Caesar." Eloquent silence responded. 

Even Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, had to be re- 
minded of precisely the same principle, that virtue 
resides in the people, by no less an exponent of popular 
rights than her Premier, Mr. Gladstone himself. 



[6] 



The Citizen 



The Queen, usually so very gracious, taking umbrage 
at the plain speech of Mr. Gladstone, determined to 
forcibly remind him in whose presence he then stood 
and the consequent need of greater reverence and 
respect from a subject to a sovereign. 

Her Majesty said to Mr. Gladstone, "Mr. Premier, 
have you forgotten that you are in the presence of the 
Queen of England?" The Premier respectfully an- 
swered, "I have not forgotten that fact, but Your Ma- 
jesty seems to have overlooked the fact that you are in 
the presence of the People of England, upon this oc- 
casion." The Queen retired. 

George Mason was a man of consular dignity, who 
could have looked Augustus Caesar squarely in the face 
without flinching and said to him, "You may be the 
Roman Emperor, but I am Rome herself," that is, the 
Roman people. 

Great men belong, not merely to their descendants 
or their day and generation, but to all times and ages 
Their posterity embraces all mankind. 

The precious metal of their thought; the refined silver 
of intelligence, and the pure gold of wisdom minted in 
the intellectual imderstanding becomes the coinage of 
the Realm of Mind. The mental wealth of every 
cultivated soul. 

The Philosophers of Greece, the law givers of Rome, 
the thinkers of medieval times, and the leaders of mod- 
em thought have left an everlasting impress upon the 
human mind. 

George Mason was a thinker, statesman and phil- 
osopher. Science and religion were to him united and 
inseparable. Both were the means of doing good. The 
first told him what to do, the second how to do it. One 
was purpose, the other process, between which there is 
no conflict. 

His life was devoted to the service of mankind. He 
was not ambitious for place or power. He sought no 
position, honor or dignity which the world could give or 
take away. He esteemed only the genuine respect, con- 
fidence, and good will of his fellowmen, and these can be 



[7] 



GEORGE MASON 



attained not by riches nor by honors, but through an 
upright and honorable life. In gaining this he attained 
to all the glory and distinction really worth having. 

George Mason was born in Prince William County, 
Virginia, in 1725 and was the fourth generation of his 
name and family in Virginia. His Great-Grandfather 
was Col. George Mason of Brewood, Staffordshire, Eng- 
land, Captain and chevalier in the Army of King 
Charles I. of England. When the kingdom was over- 
thrown by Cromwell and his militant puritans, and the 
commonwealth established, Mason migrated to Amer- 
ica, settled in Virginia, and rose to the dignity of a 
landed proprietor, member of the House of Burgess, 
and Lord High Constable of Stafford County under the 
Crown. 

His son, George, second of the name in Virginia, fol- 
lowed in his father's footsteps, accumulated property, 
held sundry offices of official dignity in church and 
state, lived a respected and died an honored Virginia 
planter. 

His son, the third George Mason, father of our great 
statesman, and moraUst, followed the vocation of his 
father and grandfather, that of a Virginia Planter. So 
notable did he become for his honorable dealings and 
his ability and integrity in his transactions and inter- 
course with the Scotch traders who carried on commer- 
cial relations between Scotland and Virginia, that the 
Common Council of the City of Glasgow, by unanimous 
consent, conferred upon him the freedom of that city, 
and made him a burgess or citizen of Glasgow. They 
also named a street in Glasgow "Virginia Street" in 
honor of the Virginia traders and planters who trans- 
acted business in Glasgow. Such was the honor and 
esteem in which Virginians were held in Scotland at that 
period. 

The mother of George Mason, the man whom we now 
honor, was Ann Thompson, the daughter of Sir Stephen 
Thompson, erstwhile of Yorkshire, England, who had 
removed to Maryland. She was a noble English lady 
with tender mother love and unaffected piety. From 



[8] 



The Citizen 



her sacred lips her young son learned the Lord's Prayer, 
the Sermon on the Mount, and the moral precepts of the 
Decalogue; sufficient religion for time and eternity. 
She reared him a sturdy, manly, self-sufficient English- 
American boy and he adored his devoted mother. 
No truly great man but owes the inspiration of his 
greatness, under God, to a good mother. 

In 1750 George Mason married Ann Eilbeck, daugh- 
ter of William Eilbeck of Maryland, a wealthy planter. 
She is supposed to have been the famous "Lowland 
beauty" who captivated the affections of George 
Washington himself, then a young man, neighbor and 
friend of George Mason. 

About the same time George Mason began the build- 
ing of "Gunston Hall," naming it in honor of his ances- 
tral home in Staffordshire, England. Three years was 
he in building this stately old English manor house of 
material brought from England and Scotland by the 
sale of the products of his plantation, and when it was 
completed, he brought his young and lovely bride to 
grace the honors of " Gunston Hall." 

The home was thrown open to his friends and neigh- 
bors in celebration of the event, and true old EngHsh 
hospitality was accorded the honored guests who had 
the privilege of invitation, and we may be sure that the 
old "Virginia Reel" and stately "Minuet" were danced 
by the young gentry of Virginia and Maryland in the 
new mansion of "Gimston Hall" and it is permissible 
to believe that Lord Fairfax of Belvoir, George Wash- 
ington of Mount Vernon, and many of the young men 
of Virginia and Maryland destined to immortal fame, 
were present to honor the occasion. 

" When men were brave, and women fair." 

In "Gunston Hall" George Mason reared his family 
in Christian principles, and dispensed a truly regal hos- 
pitaUty to all who had the honor to enter lus home for 
upwards of forty years. He lived with his wife in true 
conjugal fehcity for twenty-two years, and when she 
died he records in the family Bible that during all the 
period of their wedded life, not one unkind word had 



[9] 



GEORGE MASON 



passed her lips, and that he had experienced nothing 
but love and wifely devotion from her. This is indeed 
a true testimonial of love and fidelity between husband 
and wife worthy of the highest commendation and 
emulation. 
Her epitaph, written by himself, bears this inscription : 

"Ann Mason, Daughter of William Eilbeck (of Charles 
County in Maryland Merchant) departed this life on the 
9th day of March, 1773 (in the 39th year of her age, 
after a long and painful illness, which she bore with 
uncommon fortitude and resignation.) " 

"Once she was all that cheers and sweetens Life, 
The tender Mother, Daughter, Friend, and Wife; 
Once she was all that makes Mankind adore; 
Now view this Marble, and be vain no more." 

George Mason himself died in 1792, and his dust re- 
poses in the cemetery at "Gunston Hall." No stone 
was placed at his head until within recent years, when 
the Sons of the American Revolution erected a simple 
monument to mark the spot where reposes the dust of 
this great American Statesman and Patriot. 

Critics have asserted that the founders and fathers of 
this Republic were imbued with the Scepticism of Vol- 
taire and the Rationality of Thomas Paine. In evi- 
dence that George Mason was not among the number 
we submit the following opening paragraph of his Last 
Will and Testament. 

"T, George Mason, of 'Gunston Hall,' in the parish 
of Truro and county of Fairfax, being of perfect and 
sound mind and memory and in good health, but mind- 
ful of the uncertainty of human lijfe and the imprudence 
of a man's leaving his affairs to be settled upon a death- 
bed, do make and appoint this my last will and testa- 
ment. My soul, I resign into the hands of my Almighty 
Creator, whose tender mercies are over all his works, 
who hateth nothing that he hath made and to the Jus- 
tice and Wisdom of whose dispensation I willingly and 
cheerfully submit, humbly hoping from his unboimded 
mercy and benevolence through the merits of my blessed 
Saviour, a remission of my sins." 

No epitaph has recorded his virtues or embalmed his 
memory. He needs none. The constitution of Vir- 

[10] 



The Citizen 



ginia, the Declaration of American Independence, and 
the principles contained in the Constitution of the 
United States bear evidence of his handiwork, and will 
stand as everlasting memorials of his genius and 
inspiration. 

This man, in his heroic virtues, stern patriotism, love 
of country, and devotion to duty, compares favorably - 
in history with the heroes of Greece and Rome. Were 
Plutarch alive and writing a new edition of the lives of 
illustrious men of modern times, he would select the 
lives of George Mason and George Washington for 
"Comparison and a parallel." 

The first, the distinguished statesman ; the second the 
illustrious warrior; one in the council, the other in the 
field. The first, the great exponent of Democracy; the 
second the great opponent of Autocracy. Each would 
"point a moral and adorn a tale." One in peace, the 
other in war. Both could stand forth from the page of 
history as heroes of antiquity. Americans worthy of 
the mighty republic their genius brought to birth. 

One of the descendants of George Mason prepared a 
cenotaph as a memorial to him which might not be in- 
appropriate upon the tablets of one of the Conscript 
Fathers in the days of the Roman Republic. It reads 
as follows: 

"Lord, from the rising to the setting sun, 
Take me rot hence until my work be done. 
Beyond that time I would no longer stay — 
He lives too long who Hves beyond his day." 

George Mason was the first Virginian of note that 
lifted his voice against the oppression of the British 
Autocracy. He did more. Three of his sons entered 
the Revolutionary War and served through the entire 
period of the struggle. He himself framed the first ten \\ 
amendments of the Constitution, wrote the Virginia /( 
Bill of Rights, and gave or expended upwards of /j 
Seventy Thousand Dollars, a great sum in those days, 
in the cause of American Liberty. 

No "peace at any price" for this American. No 
"looking back" after putting his hand to the plough. 

[Ill 



GEORGE MASON 



He did his full duty as he saw it, and committed the 
outcome to Divine Providence. 

He was the wealthiest man in Virginia, owTier of a 
thousand slaves, fifteen thousand acres of land around 
his baronial estate; some eighty thousand acres of land 
in Kentucky; a vast estate in Ohio; upwards of Fifty 
Thousand Dollars in cash and One Hundred Thousand 
Dollars to the credit of his account; such were his assets, 
his liabilities practically nothing. He was careful, pru- 
dent, practical, with the reputation of an able and ex- 
perienced business man such as today would honor a 
powerful corporation. A man of unquestioned ability, 
unimpeachable integrity, and large practical experience. 
Meeting the first men of the nation on terms of equality. 
Second to none in financial and social station. 

He owned or chartered a number of ships sailing from 
ports in Virginia and Maryland, and engaged in the 
carrying trade of the colonies North and South with the 
Mother Country, France and the West Indies, and 
therefore may be said to have been the founder of our 
Merchant Marine. Such ships as the "Washington," 
the "Augusta," and the "Confidence," bore his sons to 
and from France upon various occasions. 

Yet he was among the first to seize the sword, declare 
for independence, take up the cause of Uberty, and 
spend his time and money in behalf of Freedom. The 
radical is usually the man who has nothing to lose and 
everything to gain by public tumult, or the over-turning 
of long established social and political institutions. 

Here, however, was a wealthy, highly educated, so- 
cially powerful and mentally influential man, one of the 
most notable in Virginia, who in revolution had every- 
thing to lose by failure, and absolutely nothing to gain 
by success, but the freedom of his country. 

Twice the EngUsh came up the Potomac determined 
to seize and burn " Gunston Hall," and twice were they 
thwarted in their efforts. The first time by a severe 
storm, and the second by the vigilance of the Virginia 
volunteers. 



[12 1 



The Citizen 



George Mason, although privately tutored, w^s 
•classically educated and cultured in the old school of 
intellectual attainment, that ''ennobled whatever it 
touched." A system which sought the cultivation of 
character, mental and moral development rather than 
•commercial and economic achievement. 

He excelled in the solid parts of learning; the classic 
author vied with the modern writer in moulding his 
character, exalting his intellect and preparing his mind 
for the great work of his life, ''The Birth of a Nation." 

In his spacious library at "Gunston Hall," Homer in 
■Greek and Virgil in Latin, Ovid, Plutarch, Juvenal, 
Horace, Marcus Aurelius, Plato and Seneca reposed 
with Dante, Tasso, Milton, Pope, Dryden, Shakespeare, 
and the great school of thinkers and literateurs which 
rendered the reigns of the Tudor and Stewart Dynasties 
illustrious. 

These added to a commanding personality, a gracious 
presence, a thoughtful and discerning mind, genius for 
leadership, large practical experience, a life of conspicu- 
ous service and j^esponsibility, profound knowledge and 
understanding of and varied acquaintance with men 
prominent in political, commercial and civil life, emi- 
nently fitted him for his great task, the creation of the 
political Decalogue of America, The "Magna Carta" 
of the New World. 

The man was the Solon of America; had he lived in 
Ancient Rome the Citizens would have made him Con- 
sul and Senator, crowned him with laurel, named him 
Popicola, given him the highest political honors in the 
gift of the Roman people and after death have exalted 
him to Divinity. In our nobler land ^nd better times 
he lived and died a sincere Christian; seeking nothing 
but the welfare of his country. 

History, mathematics, geography, books of travel, 
political science and the various systems of government, 
ancient and modern, were his special studies. 

Tradition bespeaks him the elegant scholar and his 
letters, speeches and correspondence attest the cultiva- 
tion of his mind, endowment of his intellect and exalta- 

[13 1 



GEORGE MASON 



tion of his genius. His contemporaries admired and 
respected him, not only as the learned thinker and 
statesman, but as the practical man of affairs, a delight- 
ful companion and a sincere and valuable friend. 

Endowed with wit, humor and a fund of anecdotes^ 
which could upon appropriate occasion, "point the 
moral and adorn the tale," and ofttimes, at a critical 
moment, "turn the tables " upon his political opponent. 

Such a man was George Mason. In every sphere of 
life in which it pleased Divine Providence to place him^ 
he exhibited integrity and ability worthy of the man 
and the great place he was destined to fill in the history 
of our country. He loved his native state profoundly 
and in later years she recognized his genius and placed 
his statue with that of her other great sons in her 
Capitol. 




14 




ROBERT C. MASON. 



CHAPTER SECOND 

The Statesman 

When it became evident that Democracy was to tri- 
umph and be established in America as the poUtical 
principle of Government designed by Providence to con- 
trol the new world, it became apparent to the trained 
intellect of George Mason that freedom and slavery 
were incompatible foundation stones upon which to 
erect the cardinal principles of our government. With 
prophetic discernment he clearly foresaw and prognos- 
ticated that when slavery would be no longer profitable, 
moral sentiment would rise which would lead to strife 
between the States. 

Thereupon he began to advocate the curtailment of 
slavery by restricting the slave traf&c, and later the 
aboUtion of slavery itself by the payment to the master 
of the full value of the slave. He denounced the traflSc 
in slaves as the most pernicious institution known to 
mankind — degrading white labor, morally demoralizing 
the white race, and making every master virtually a 
tyrant. He agreed to free his own slaves and therefore 
was the first known aboKtionist. 

He was ridiculed for his pains, and many of his friends 
and associates of his own caste took umbrage at his 
principles. Many men who are born, live and die in a 
republic are nevertheless at heart either tyrants or 
slaves. The tyrant is at heart a slave, and the slave is 
in heart a tyrant. 

One of his poHtical opponents, criticising his progres- 
sive views, said to him: "Mr. Mason, you are an old 
man, and the public notices that you are losing your 
faculties." George Mason answered, "Sir, the public 
will never notice when you lose yours." 

Many of his great contemporaries have been unani- 
mous in granting to George Mason credit for his service 
in the cause of American freedom, and thereby the 
enfranchisement of the world. 

[15] 



GEORGE MASON 



Washington, Lee, Jeflferson, Madison, Patrick Henry, 
and other of his illustrious compatriots have borne elo- 
quent testimony of the ability, integrity, sound moral 
judgment, talent for debate, wise political principles 
and prescience of George Mason. 

The statesmen, students, thinkers and philosophers 
of a later generation have approved their findings and 
added their testimony to his mental worth and moral 
value, among them Bancroft, the historian; John 
Easton Cooke; Richard Taylor; and others have found 
in this man the great spirit of leadership capable of 
guiding the destiny of men and of nations. 

Jefferson says: " I was in Philadelphia with Congress, 
and hearing that the convention of Virginia was engaged 
in preparing a plan of government, I turned my mind 
to the same subject and drew an outline of a Constitu- 
tion and Preamble, which I sent to Mr. Pendleton, Presi- 
dent of the committee, on the mere probability that it 
might suggest something worth incorporating into that 
before them. 

" Some time later he informed me that he received it 
on the very day that the committee of the whole had 
reported to the house the plan they had agreed upon, 
which had been so long on hand and had been so 
greatly disputed. 

"They were wearied with the altercation it had pro- 
duced, and could not from mere lassitude have been 
induced to open the instrument again; but being pleased 
with the Preamble of mine they adopted it in the House 
by way of amendment to the 'report of the committee.' 
And thus my Preamble became tacked on to the work 
of George Mason." 

The "Virginia Bill of Rights" and the constitution 
founded upon it is the first defined, written and ex- 
pressed constitution of modern time. Not only has this 
bill the remarkable merit of having been twice adopted 
unanimously at two successive periods of our Govern- 
ment (fifty years apart), but it has the further merit of 
having been the model for similar declarations, or rights, 
and similar constitutions. 

[161 



The Statesman 



Thus it is that it stands the foremost in the series of 
events which have placed the United States at the head 
of popular principles of the world, and has made it, 
of all other instruments, the chief for the enlargement 
and advancement of civil and religious liberty upon the 
earth. The noble encomiums upon its author are true 
of his work, that it is not only great, but first in the 
order of greatness. 

Henry Lee says: "Among the very great statesmen 
Virginia has produced, George Mason was second to 
none in wisdom and virtue, and by many of his eminent 
contemporaries was regarded as the wisest of them all." 

Justice Harbin says: " George Mason formulated the 
greatest political polity the mind of man ever conceived 
or the hand of man ever executed. He laid the corner- 
stone of our Government and was the greatest construc- 
tive statesman this hemisphere has ever produced." 

Bland says: "The Bill of Rights may be called not 
only the 'Magna Carta' of Virginia, but of America. 
It lays down the great principles upon which the Ameri- 
cans meant to rest and upon which they intended to 
stand in the approaching struggle. After a century of 
RepubHcan Freedom and Democratic Government, 
there is nothing to add or deduct from this great pro- 
test in favor of the rights of man, and it remains the 
original chart by which free governments must steer 
their course in all coming times." 

Says another eminent writer of the Bill of Rights: " It 
is logical and a concise summary of the great principles 
inherited from our British ancestors, distilled and con- 
centrated through the Alembic of George Mason's 
profound and discriminating mind." 

Our illustrious President, Mr. Woodrow Wilson, in 
his life of George Washington, after alluding to the 
allegiance of the Fairfax's to England, adds: "George 
Mason, the neighbor whom he most trusted, was of a 
very different mind and strengthened and confirmed 
him in other councils." 

Richard Taylor says: "Among the wise and good 
who in the past century secured the independence of 

[171 



GEORGE MASON 



our country and founded this Government, George 
Mason of Virginia holds a place second to none." 

Says John Easton Cooke: "There was living in Vir- 
ginia at the outbreak of the Revolution one of the most 
rerriarkable men, not only of his country and epoch but 
of all countries and all times. This man held no public 
office, but the first statesman of his time consulted him, 
looked to him for guidance, and acted upon his advice 
and instructions. 

He was not a lawyer, but his opinions of Govern- 
ment had all the force and dignity of legislative decrees. 
In the most urgent crisis of public affairs, the great 
actors on the stage of the revolution looked behind the 
scenes to the silent figure, who stripped of all adventi- 
tious aid and divested of all authority created by official 
power, nevertheless maintained a vast intellectual do- 
minion which he wielded over the minds of the first 
thinkers of his age." 

Paul Kester says: "George Mason was the first man 
in the history of the world to formulate the principles of 
liberty and justice in a great State paper. His Vir- 
ginia Constitution was the forerunner and pattern of all 
the constitutions subsequently made. The first ten 
amendments of the Constitution of the United States 
are practically his and may be found expressed in the 
Virginia Bill of Rights. The influence of his work is 
world wide. His ideals of Liberty, Freedom and Equal- 
ity constitute the essence of all modern thought on the 
subject. 

His ideals have become a safeguard to human rights 
all the world over. The great principles which inspired, 
not only the American Revolution, but the French 
Revolution as well, owe their origin to him. He was 
probably the wisest and most disinterested man to 
whom so great a task has ever been allotted by Divine 
Providence. He must be considered one of the greatest 
benefactors of our race." 

This man without assuming power or authority over 
the bodies or souls of men, accomplished more for hu- 
manity within the brief period of his lifetime than all 

[18] 



The Statesman 



the Kings and Warriors who have lived but to enslave 
mankind. 

"He led. The others followed him." 

George Mason was the Representative of Virginia to 
the Constitutional Convention which met in Phila- 
delphia, 1787, and created the Constitution of the 
United States. He practically formulated the first 
eight amendments to that Constitution, and many of 
its great principles are the manifestation of his genius. 
They may be found expressed or implied in his "Vir- 
ginia Bill of Rights." His ability, integrity, moral 
power, financial influence and social standing, melded 
a tremendous authority in moulding public opinion, 
shaping the mind of the convention and leading the 
great men comprising its personnel to the recognition 
of the moral principles, primary rights, and funda- 
mental prerogatives of the constitution. 

Nevertheless, as finally presented for his signature, he 
refused from conscientious motives, to sign it. As it 
then stood it did not abolish slavery or make prepara- 
tion for its gradual extinction. It did not clearly define 
the sovereign rights of the states or positively declare 
the fundamental constitutional prerogatives of the fed- 
eral government. It left the door open for the possi- 
bility of a civil war, and it made possible the creeping in 
of arbitrary power, which in a republic, no less than in a 
monarchy, is ever prone to usurp place and authority. 

Republican or Democratic forms of government do 
not necessarily exclude the possibility of tyranny, des- 
potism and slavery. Autocracy has thriven in democ- 
racies, howbeit under another name, and eternal vigi- 
lance alone is the final price of liberty. 

The poUtical prescience of Virginia's great statesman 
and philosopher, clearly foresaw the evils hable to creep 
into our federal form of government as it then stood. 
He reasoned, protested, expostulated and finally, as a 
moral protest, refused to aflix the mandate of his native 
state to the Instrument. 

[19] 



GEORGE MASON 



He was condemned by the ignorant, excoriated by 
the thoughtless and criticised by some of his eminent 
contemporaries. History however, has affirmed his 
judgment, and commended his moral discernment, Vir- 
ginia long ago recognized that her great son honored her 
edict in the breach rather than in the observance. 

The Civil War would have been prevented, had the 
political wisdom of George Mason been acted upon and 
his descendants glory in the fact that among the sig- 
tures of the eminent statesmen affixed to the consti- 
tution as it then stood, his name is conspicuous by its 
absence. 

What moral courage, disinterested loyalty, sincere 
conviction of right, and love of his native state and 
country must have been his, to enable him to withstand 
the promptings of fame and glory and the pressure of 
his friends and of public opinion, to sign the document 
which made immortal the names of those who approved 
and attested it. 

Truly great men stand upon eternal moral principles, 
irrespective of results. The shifting winds of public 
opinion, the quicksands of popular prejudice or the 
storms of national upheaval fail to move them from 
their anchorage of fundamental truth and primary 
justice. 

Their own times may criticise, condemn and reject 
them, but posterity acknowledges its moral obligation 
and debt of gratitude to the brave, strong, noble minds 
that stem the tide and stand fast for the rights of 
humanity regardless of the consequences. 

Truly great men never die. Their lives are perpetu- 
ated in their deeds and in the largest measure of their 
usefulness, all humanity participates in the blessings of 
their service. There are many men who live and die 
useful and honored lives, but time swallows up their 
memory because the measure of their usefulness was 
limited and ceased to be effective, consequently the 
memory of man is immortal only in proportion to his 
useful service to humanity. 

[20] 




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APOTHEOSIS OF THE PRINCIPLES OF 
GEORGE MASON 

Our God, our Countr>', and our Home, 

All that we are or hope to be, 
Our Truth, our Freedom and our Love, 

With heart and soul we yield to thee. 

For these our Fathers lived and loved. 
For these they crossed the ocean wide; 

For these they vanquished every foe. 
For these they labored, fought and died; 

That we, their children, might be free. 

A world unknown they sought and found; 
They nourished freedom with their blood; 

And this, our land, is Holy Ground. 

And here, beneath the stars of Heaven, 

High emblem of our Unity ; 
We lift our souls in prayer to God, 

And vow our children shall be free. 

As moim tains lift their heads on high. 
As rivers flow to meet the seas, 

As turns the earth to greet the sun, 
So throbs our heart with love of these. 

This is that Unity we love, 

The all in all that we adore; 
Our home, our country, and our God, 

Forever and forever more. 



23 



GEORGE MASON 



CHAPTER THIRD 
The Philosopher 

THE POLITICAL PRINCIPLES OF FEDERAL UNITY AS ENUNCIATED 

BY GEORGE MASON APPLIED TO THE UNIVERSAL 

GOVERNMENT OF MANKIND 

This war has demonstrated the fact that no nation 
can adequately defend itself. The art of destruction 
has become greater than that of construction. Offence 
has conquered defense, hence nations, like individuals, 
must hereafter look to one another jointly for mutual 
protection and to the degree they unitedly defend they 
shall be separately protected. "Ceasing to give, we 
cease to have," applies alike to individuals and nations. 

There can he no peace at the expense of freedom, no 
freedom without justice, no justice save through the 
administration of law and order and neither law nor 
order in international affairs without the application of 
force through constituted authority, that all can depend 
upon for protection and redress of grievance and which 
all must perforce obey. 

It should never again be necessary for America to 
spend her treasure and shed her blood in Europe to 
stem the mad ambition of autocracy. We should 
render impossible another world-war. The political 
principles of federal unity in the Government of the 
United States, enunciated by Mason, proclaimed by 
Jefiferson, interpreted by Marshall and administered by 
Washington would, if put into international practice, 
lead to the fundamental unity of mankind. 

Fundamental international federal world unity re- 
mains the only untried method of securing permanent 
universal peace. All other systems have failed, there- 
fore humanity should give this final principle an im- 
partial trial. We can always return to the primeval 
system of self-defense. 

We entered the war to make the world safe for De- 
mocracy, and, by implication, Democracy safe for the 
world. Can we do it better than by world unity? 

[35] 



GEORGE MASON 



Vitally necessary changes should operate as the 
logical sequence of this war. Civilized races should be 
granted freedom under law and order to work out their 
political, economic, and social aspirations. Universal 
progress is possible only in a free world. We cannot 
expect to receive good results either from men or na- 
tions except in a state of freedom. Enslaved men and 
captive nations add nothing to the ethical value of 
civilization. 

Viewed from the standpoint of use and service to one 
another mankind could co-operate as one man. The 
white race would be the head, neck, shoulders, arms and 
hands of power and authority. The brown, yellow, and 
red races the body and the black races the legs and feet 
of this "Maximus Homus" or Grand Man. Assuming 
the white race alone as the Maxima Homo (grand man) 
it must be admitted that the Anglo-Saxon race consti- 
tute the head, neck, shoulders, arms and hands of intel- 
ligence, intellectuality, rationality, discernment, judg- 
ment, power and authority of that man. The Genius 
of Anglo-Saxon civiHzation represents the mind and cor- 
responds to noble wine, animating the intellect, exhilar- 
ating the intelligence and exalting the intellectual 
understanding. 

The Latin race embrace the breast with the heart, 
lungs, nervous system, respiratory organs and affections 
of that Man. The spirit of Latin civilization represents 
the heart, and corresponds to Champagne, inspiring 
affections, kindling the emotions and radiating the 
sphere of lofty ideals, sentiments and aspirations. 

The Teuton or German Kultur appeals to the 
stomach and is signified by Beer, their Genius being 
digestive, with power of assimilation, appropriation, se- 
lection, disposition, utility, efficiency, service, usefulness 
and Kultur, which gives healthy tone to the digestive 
organs, stimulating nutrition, and generally beneficial 
to the whole body. German civilization eminently par- 
takes of the body with all its functions, and not of the 
mind with its affections, sentiments and idealistic 
concepts. 

[26] 



The Philosopher 



The Slav race constitute the intestines, pancreas, 
spleen, liver and interior functions of the lower parts of 
the Torso and their mental cultivation is fittingly repre- 
sented by Vodka. Mentally they still Uve in the intes- 
tines of moral refuse or they would not permit the ex- 
crement of human society to capture the power and 
authority of one hundred and fifty milUons of people. 

The lowest elements of human society in control over 
the life and death of a great nation and no united at- 
tempt made by that nation to assert its moral and intel- 
lectual supremacy over these unruly and criminal 
elements, is a sad commentary on the moral status of a 
people; they surely correspond to the refuse of human 
society and their future is dark in the extreme. 

The Scandinavian race in their mental and moral 
unfoldment represent the thighs down to the knees and 
lower extremities of the Grand white man. They also 
correspond to conjugal affections and have many excel- 
lent traits and virtues of afifection and domestic peace 
and happiness. Their condition is enviable and 
admirable. 

This arrangement of the white race viewed from the 
standpoint of universal utility, mentally, morally and 
socially, in their unity and co-operation may seem fanci- 
ful, but seen from the law of correspondence it repre- 
sents deeply significant psychological, ethnological and 
anthropological principles, essential to the proper moral 
imderstanding, classification and co-relation of mankind 
into one homogeneous co-operative commonwealth. 

Corresponding to those mental and moral states in 
the Maxima Homo, truth, freedom, justice, and the 
virtues of the various races are either self-apparent or 
conspicuous by their absence. The Anglo-Saxon race 
enjoy a large degree of mental and moral freedom as 
compatible with the best interests of human society in 
the countries inhabited by this progressive race. Free- 
dom among them is not merely lip service. It is of the 
head and heart as well as of the tongue and mouth. 

In English-speaking countries during normal peace 
times a man may say what he pleases provided he does 



1271 



GEORGE MASON 



not do what he pleases. The first is liberty, the second 
may be license. Among certain other races however, 
a man can generally do as he pleases provided he does 
not say it in advance. License is granted where free- 
dom is denied. Say what you please, but do not do it, 
versus, do as you please, but do not say it. Between 
those two extremes will be found genuine civilization 
and the exercise of human right founded upon law and 
order and not mere man-made authority. 

Thus the human form viewed from essential use is 
vital to all systems of human co-operation, civil and 
ecclesiastical, social and domestic, public and private; 
either in communities or in corporate bodies. This 
may be clearly seen by serious and elevated mental 
reflection. 

The home, society, the community, county, city, 
state, nation and international relations are all co-or- 
dinated from the standpoint of use and service each as 
one man as to their functions in power, authority and 
responsibility. All civic bodies as well as all organized 
economic corporations so appear viewed from the 
standpoint of use. 

In all business associations, organizations and cor- 
porations, there must be an essential head or president; 
a treasurer, representing the heart, a secretary, cor- 
responding to the lungs with its respiratory system, 
while the various members of the body corporate 
represent the other functions of the human system; nor 
can any organization be created, empowered or success- 
fully conducted without possessing the functions repre- 
senting a man, with his power, authority and respon- 
sibility to sue or be sued, act rightfully or wrongfully 
with all the consequences implied. 

Viewed from this standpoint, the romantic represen- 
tation of Uncle Sam and John Bull as ideal personages 
representative of the racial traits, sentiments, ideals and 
characteristics of England and America, embody and 
express a profoundly interesting and suggestive psychic 
study. 



[28] 



The Philosopher 



Ancient wisdom conceived the universe to represent 
in its internal mechanism, one " Grand Man," the body 
of which constituted the physical imiverse, the life 
principle expressed through nature, the spirit and the 
divine principle, God. The human race being in his 
image and likeness and man in the human form as a 
similitude of his divine humanity. 

Creation strives to assume the human form. Na- 
ture, in all and singular things regards humanity, its 
use and service as the "Ultima Thule" of her duty and 
functions. All forms exist in use as the very measure of 
their existence. Nothing lives in, for or by itself alone. 
All things live, move and have their being in use as their 
efficient end, cause and efifect. Life is in use, death in 
abuse. 

The mineral world supplies the Agricultural and floral 
domain the means of sustaining the Animal Kingdom in 
its maintenance and nourishment of the Human realm. 
All look upward to man without whom there would not 
exist the Nexus in nature uniting and co-ordinating her 
myriad forms and functions. 

The fowls of the air and beasts of the field have 
nothing in common, except through man. They serve 
him, and through him their Creator. They are of no 
use to one another and there exists no bond of unity, 
sympathy or usefulness between them. However, as 
food, clothing and other uses they all serve the material 
needs and other requirements of man. 

Nature imites her threefold Kingdom in man. Man- 
kind unifies in use to one another and nations can be so 
co-related, each according to the measure of their use- 
fulness to humanity as a whole. 

The himian form, centralizing all uses and consti- 
tuting the final expression of use, is USE itself, hence, 
capable of every good and every truth going forth from 
the Divine in use and service to His creatures, and as 
we can conceive of no higher form of use than the human 
form, it is morally and intellectually permissible to 
believe that the divine, itself, is in the human form. 
In other words, that God is in the human form, the 

[29] 



GEORGE MASON 



One and only Man, and the human race in the likeness 
and similitude of that Man from his Divine Humanity. 

From this reason alone all creation seeks the human 
form, as the great Archetype and Prototype of form or 
form itself. Hence, it is, that all human activities, 
civil and ecclesiastical, social, domestic, political, econ- 
omic, personal and private must all assume the co-opera- 
tive unity as expressed and embodied in the human form 
itself. With all its functions, duties, privileges and 
responsibilities. 

Service to humanity as a whole is compatible with 
our love of home, duty to our native state, service to 
our fellow countrymen and patriotism to our nation. 
Mankind in ever-ascending scales, constitute our neigh- 
bor from a moral viewpoint. The home, our relatives, 
friends, neighbors, the community in which we live, 
society in general, the city, county, state, nation and 
humanity itself constitute the neighbor, and "The love 
toward the neighbor is in the last and final analysis the 
love toward the Lord." 

Even the languages of the different races in their de- 
velopment, evolution and genius indicate their appli- 
cation to the service of man in all the varied states of 
his being. Each language supplies a mental or moral 
quality essential to human unfoldment and lacking or 
deficient in the others, and all combined afford mankind 
universally the means of expressing their aspirations, 
inspirations, ideals and principles. Each is necessary 
to all the others and without them all, mankind would 
lack essential elements in the best method of communi- 
cating their thoughts, sentiments, and gratitude. 

Spanish is the language of prayer, devotion and piety. 
It has been well-said that the Creator, if desiring to 
communicate aught to mankind in these days, would 
use the Spanish tongue in which to make his wishes 
known. 

Italian is par-excellence the speech of love, music and 
song. A glance of the eye, an expression of the face, a 
wave of the hand, a motion of the body, or an idiomatic 
expression, meaningless to others, conveys indefinite 

[30] 



The Philosopher 



manifestation of human sentiments expressible only in 
outward acts among other nations. This is largely true 
of all the Latin tongues. 

French is pre-eminently the language of refinement, 
politeness, courtesy, culture, literature and the elegant 
accomplishments of himian life in all its social spheres. 
It is an essential to the perfect lady or gentleman in the 
highest state of civilization. No other tongue can so 
point the moral or adorn the tale. 

Wit, humor, repartee, and all the higher and more in- 
terior emotions of the human mind are more perfectly 
expressed in French than in any other language. It 
has been aptly stated that what the language leaves un- 
said, save by innuendo, insinuation, implication and indi- 
rect reference is far more extensive than the language 
itself. It suggests indefinite states of thought, feeling 
and sentiment that cannot possibly be conveyed by di- 
rect speech. It is therefore the language of Diplomacy, 
wherein, except the parties to the conversation be ex- 
perts in the subtle modes of expression, everything is 
clearly explained and nothing whatever understood. 

The EngUsh language is the speech of material re- 
quirements and intellectual understanding. It is di- 
rect, to the point, efl&cient and sufficient to express all 
physical wants and earthly necessities. It is grandly 
expressive of human life on its mental planes. Strong, 
virile, versatile, dignified, majestic, lofty and senten- 
tious. The language of conquest over nature herself in 
all her material phases of external life. A language 
for conquerors, masters, executives, administration effi- 
ciency and thoroughness. Equalling in these regards 
the Latin tongue in its strongest moods. Without the 
English tongue Shakespeare would have been impos- 
sible and Nature would not have been conquered, 
tamed, subdued and civilized. It signifies brain and 
brawn, energy, ability, integrity and a glorious con- 
tempt for hardship, indifference to the unknown; law 
and order everywhere taking the place of mere senti- 
mental and romantic irregularity. It is a well-regu- 



31) 



GEORGE MASON 



lated and cultivated garden instead of a wilderness of 
flowers. 

German is the language of Science, which, Uke the 
stomach itself takes in, absorbs and appropriates all 
facts and substances; examines, clarifies, co-ordinates 
and disposes each item to its appropriate place and func- 
tion in the civilization of the age. While by no means 
an inventive language per se (of over two hundred 
great modern inventions, only thirty-two can be trace- 
able directly to Germany), it investigates, explores, ex- 
periments, and from a mass of elementary theories, 
and hypotheosis, deducts the cold, hard facts for actual 
use in the abstract sciences. 

German is the language of the experimental world. 
In abstruse and diflScult demonstrations and its genius 
is to follow and not lead the genius of mankind. Like 
the national spirit of the German people which desires 
to serve and be led, consequently can be led either right 
or wrong by their superiors, whereas the spirit of the 
English Nation is to command and lead and which 
therefore can only be led right by their superiors. 

This is stated as a psychological truth of profound 
moral interest in the proper understanding of the genius 
and temper of the German nation and the interior cause 
of the war. 

The Teuton language is harsh and guttural to foreign 
ears and there are few soft, pleasing and euphonious ex- 
pressions with, however, some very notable exceptions. 
It is however a domestic speech and a medium for the 
sweet social and domestic ties and human affections. 

One expression of this speech in particular serves to 
redeem it from the censure of its critics. It is wonder- 
fully expressive of domestic love and affection, "Auf 
Wiedersehn" (Until we meet again). The hopeless 
"Good by" of the English, and the meaningless "Au 
revoir" of the French, have nothing in common with 
the warm and hopeful aspiration e.xpressed in this beau- 
tiful German idiom, redolent of mental and moral per- 
fume, the essence of all beautiful, pervasive domesticity. 

[32] 



I 



The Philosopher 



Viewed, however, from the moral standpoint, there are 
but two kinds of men and only one language. The 
races wholly disappear. The white, brown, yellow, red 
and black man all merge into two distinct species of the 
genius Homo, namely Good and Evil men, or useful and 
useless men, if you prefer the latter terms. 

Truth, intelligence, and experience make a good man 
better and a bad man worse. On the basis of moraUty 
or its opposite all stand or fall. All are on an equal 
footing and all are equal. This then is the criterion by 
which all mankind should be adjudged, and their for- 
tunes regulated. On this great plane we need have no 
fear of any race or all mankind. 

On this basis of moral co-operation and mental obli- 
gation toward one another our superiors will not, our 
inferiors cannot, and our equals will have no occasion 
to insult or injure us. In the presence of the Decalogue 
all stand upon the plane of perfect equality before God 
and man, and he who is greatest among it is great simply 
because of the superiority of his service and usefulness 
to others. 

There should be international unity in peace parlia- 
ments of all generic nations, thus: The Anglo-Saxon, 
the Latin, German, Slav and Scandinavian races should 
evolve centralized, unified peace organizations among 
themselves to conserve, develop and bestow upon man- 
kind the best racial attributes and ethical achieve- 
ments of the races who have a common origin and who, 
in sentiment, temperament and genius, are the same. 

The Anglo-Saxon race should especially impose a 
supereminent peace parliament among themselves, com- 
posed of and representing the fundamental characteris- 
tics and essential imits of this race, wherein kings, presi- 
dents, and premiers might preside as chief magistrates, 
presidents or premiers without nullification of the func- 
tions exercised by them in their own governments. 

The King of England, the President of the United 
States, or the Premiers of Canada and Australia might, 
if elected or deputed, preside over the deliberations of 
such an Anglo-Saxon Congress as its President or re- 

[33] 



GEORGE MASON 



sp)onsible head, while still remaining king, president or 
premier. 

The Peace Capital of such an international Anglo- 
Saxon English-speaking parliament should be estab- 
lished at Stone-Henge, England. History, story and 
tradition render this spot the center of Anglo-Saxon 
sentiment. Here civilization on the British Isles first 
began, and around it are entwined the lore of a hoary 
and venerable antiquity. 

Heretofore war has been a power beyond the ability 
of any Government to control. Every species of Gov- 
ernment that ever existed on the earth has been subject 
to its power and there never has been a Government 
which ultimately was not brought to destruction by the 
spirit of war. It has written, " Mene, Mene, Tekel Up- 
harsin" on every political institution ever established 
by the genius of man, and except banished from the 
earth, bids fair to ultimately destroy civilization. 

When there is a power in the Government greater 
than the Government, there is no government. When 
there is a power in civilization greater than civilization, 
there is no civilization. That power is war. And to 
abolish it will require the universal co-operation of man- 
kind, in a supereminent Government. 

The fundamental unity of mankind as the logical re- 
sult of this world war is eminent. Civilization requires 
it; justice demands it; morality sanctions it; and the 
representatives of the great nations of the earth now in 
arms to defend liberty and secure lasting peace have 
expressed approval of this great moral concept. 

Faith declares and reason affirms, that the Divinity, 
in the dispensation of His Divine Providence, operating 
through natural events, in the conduct of human affairs, 
looks to eternity and infinitude in all things permitted 
or sanctioned, regarding the events of time and space 
only in their relation and co-ordination to eternal and 
infijiite results. 

Within the purview of Divine Providence, the past, 
the present and the future constitute the Now, the 
Divine operation being specific with man, general with 

[34] 



The Philosiopher 



men, generic \vith nations and universal with man- 
kind. 

Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omnibene- 
ficent, in all time without time, and in all space without 
space, there being no time in its eternity nor any space 
in its immensity. 

Within the purview of Divine Providence viewed 
from this standpoint, the end in view sanctifies the 
means employed, hence, Divine Providence permits evil 
although it sanctions only good to the intent that Man 
may remain in the state of integrity and thereby be 
perpetuated to eternity. 

To that end Divine Providence endows man with two 
faculties. Rationality and Liberty. The first enables 
him to think as he pleases, the second to do as he 
pleases, howbeit not to escape the consequences, good 
bringing its essential reward and evil its inevitable 
punishment. 

Without permission to both good and evil, man could 
not remain in a state of integrity, but would degenerate 
into a mere beast of the field without power of moral de- 
termination, consequently without authority or re- 
sponsibility. Hence, permission to commit wrong as 
well as sanction to do right are both essential laws of 
Divine Providence. 

Therefore, War is permitted by Divine Providence 
although in and of itself it is infernal, being diamet- 
rically opposed to the welfare of human society, carry- 
ing within its bosom every species of wickedness and 
depravity and aiming at the extermination of the human 
race itself. 

Those who engage in warfare, civil or foreign, from 
motives of self-glory, conquest or desire of possession to 
seize the goods of others, oppress mankind and rule the 
world, are infernally perverted. They are enemies of 
both God and man; they love themselves alone; hate all 
others in comparison with themselves, care nothing for 
the welfare of others, seek only their own gratification, 
would destroy the human race, without regard to the 

[35] 



GEORGE MASON 



helpless, innocent or unoffending. They would trample 
upon and exterminate all rights, human and divine. 

Peace at any price is slavery; therefore, those who 
wage war to defend freedom, protect their country, re- 
tain its liberty and save mankind, really fight against 
war to destroy and extinguish it. They are, therefore, 
saviours of mankind, true patriots, heroes and martyrs. 
Their service, involving and endangering their lives, is 
the greatest use to humanity, so that living they are 
beloved and venerated, and, dying, become heirs to 
immortal fame. 

War is permitted that mankind, while remaining in a 
state of integrity to think and ability to do as they 
please, without which there would be no liberty or 
rationality, may, by the consequences of their own ac- 
tions, be reformed, regenerated and preserved, without 
which the himian race would inevitably perish. 

Two great cupidities create War — Love of Dominion 
and Lust of Ownership. The former craves to govern 
all things, the latter to possess all things. In an Au- 
tocracy these two insane lusts make one, centralizing 
wealth and commanding power and authority, and con- 
tinually aspiring and conspiring to own all wealth and to 
possess all power. Nor can these two cupidities ever 
rest satisfied short of possessing and controlling the 
earth. 

To subdue these evil principles, Divine Providence, at 
simdry times and in different places, inspires the souls of 
great men to extinguish effete forms of Government, 
wherein the Lust of Dominion and greed of material 
possession have gained ascendancy, and in their places 
to raise up responsible forms of Government wherein 
truth and justice may prevail. 

Numbers grant no dispensation of truth nor can a 
majority ennoble falsehood. One man may be right 
when all the world is wrong. The world is led by indi- 
viduals to see the right and not by masses. Like a 
great hght, a mighty mind is in the center, with lesser 
minds in the circumference. 



36] 



The Philosopher 



Such a man was the hero of this Memorial. His 
poUtical system of Federal Government with its 
three branches, Legislative, Judiciary and Executive, 
have been virtually adopted by all the responsible 
Governments on earth. 

Hence man proposes, but God disposes. His Divine 
Providence governs the World. Therefore, a power 
must arise in human society willing and capable of uni- 
versal protection. Gathering into its bosom as the 
ocean gathers the waters all constituted power and au- 
thority, supported by the universal sanction and might 
of mankind. Confined within the measure of its use- 
fulness, controlled by the forms of law and order as ap- 
proved by human experience and administered through 
those procedures arising from the spirit of justice in the 
application of force, moral, material and physical. 

"With charity toward all and malice toward none." 
"With no friends to reward, nor enemies to punish." 
Without " Entanghng AlUances." Neither intimidated 
by fear nor stimulated by hope of reward. Having 
within its purview the imiversal peace, protection and 
prosperity of the earth. Depending upon the whole 
world for its support. Looking mankind squarely in 
the face, seeking neither place nor applause, loving 
truth and justice and fearing not the brief authority of 
a little day. 

Indifferent to false conceptions of duty, deaf to public 
clamor, dumb to national prejudice, bUnd to self-in- 
terest, averse to vain glory, seeking only the reward of 
service well and faithfully performed, established on the 
moral precepts of the Decalogue, and looking away from 
the idol of war to the God of Peace. 

All power not especially delegated should be specific- 
ally withheld. Nevertheless, to accompUsh its de- 
signed mission of universal peace and protection, such 
a Government should necessarily possess within the 
sphere of its lawful functions and limitations, the 
unquestionable sovereignty of the earth. 

Therefore, the nations entered into this federal unity 
must, within the limits assigned and delegated, yield the 

[371 



GEORGE MASON 



principle and prerogative of sovereignty. Preparedness 
is compatible with such renunciation. There can be 
but one absolute sovereign power upon the earth, if in 
the last analysis, mankind are to have imiversal, per- 
manent peace. 

Such a Government must possess legislative, judicial 
and executive functions, hence, must consist of a Parlia- 
ment with a lower House to meditate and propose inter- 
national law; an upper house to approve and sanction; 
a Supreme Court of international jurisdiction to inter- 
pret, and an administrative to carry the purpose of the 
law into execution. 

Europe should be fundamentally united and an 
Eminent Government, representative of and respon- 
sible to all of the European nations, established over that 
continent. The international capital should be Con- 
stantinople. The Dardanelles, uniting the Mediter- 
ranean and Black Seas, separating Europe and Asia and 
granting access to both continents possess a strategic 
advantage and ethnological value which no individual 
nation should exclusively possess or command. 

Three thousand years ago, the God of Heaven and 
Earth established fundamental international, universal 
world unity in law and order, by enunciating for the 
benefit of all mankind, the Decalogue. This consti- 
tutes the essence of all law, human and divine, national 
and international, and all the nations of the earth have 
to do is to gather around and establish upon the Deca- 
logue, world imity in the administration of Truth and 
Justice between nations as between individuals. 

The English-speaking world is practically prepared 
for such international imity. The British Isles, Eng- 
land, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the Dominion of 
Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Empire of 
India, the English possessions in South Africa, the West 
India Islands, New Zealand and the United States are 
practically one commonwealth, with fundamental in- 
ternational ideals and aspirations. They are funda- 
mental Democracies and are so administered. 

[38] 



The Philosopher 



If we add to them France and Italy, we thereby em- 
brace the Latin race, both in Europe and America, as 
Latin America will naturally follow the trend of Latin 
Europe. 

We suggest an "Eminent Peace Parliament" estab- 
lished over each continent, comprised of the appointed 
and elected representatives of the nations inhabiting the 
various continents comprising legislative, judiciary and 
executive functions with Congress, Senate, Supreme 
Court and Administration, meeting tri-annually, and 
having within the purview of its constituted preroga- 
tives matters of supreme continental importance and 
vital moment to all of the nations inhabiting the con- 
tinent including transportation, communication, sani- 
tation, coinage, weights and measures, trade, economics, 
finances and poUtical polity. 

Over all the world we would suggest an International 
Fundamental, Universal, Federal World Unity, estab- 
lished in a parliament consisting of four chambers, and 
comprising within the purview of its prerogatives the 
legislative, judiciary and executive power and authority 
of mankind. 

First, an elective congress of five members from each 
civilized, three from semi-civilized, and one member 
each from barbarous nations entering into and compris- 
ing the universal super-eminent government of man- 
kind. What constitutes the three essential degrees of 
civilization to be determined by international law as 
created by the world parliament and defined by the 
Universal Supreme Court. 

Second, an appointed Senate comprising two Senators 
from each sovereign nation represented in the Universal 
Parliament. The Senators to be appointed by the re- 
sponsible governments of each nation having plenary 
authority in manner agreeable to its constitution and 
government. 

Third, "An Assemblage of Regents." Notables, 
Elder Statesmen, selected, elected and appointed by the 
Continental Governments in manner to be determined 
by such eminent governments when created and duly 

[39] 



GEORGE MASON 



empowered. The Regents to form a world cabinet or 
privy council to the President of the Earth. The Re- 
gents to be selected from the prominent representatives 
of the various races of mankind and embodying the 
racial characteristics and ethical ideals. The World 
President to be selected from the body of the Regents, 
elected by the Congress, approved by the Senate, and 
sanctioned by the Regents of the races forming the 
World ParUament. 

Twenty Regents from Europe, fifteen from North 
America, ten from South America, ten from Asia, five 
from Africa, and five from Oceanica. 

The Regents to be composed of men of eminent inter- 
national standing and dignity, of abihty and integrity 
unquestioned and unquestionable, who have served 
their nations in international capacity as emperors, 
kings, presidents, governors and ambassadors, whom 
the whole world would dehght to honor and who would 
resign their functions in any one or more nations and 
become Postulants for the dignity of the World Regents. 

Super-eminent men, universally trained, interna- 
tional minds, within whose intellectual and rational pur- 
view the various races of mankind and the nations of the 
earth constitute one humanity to be served, protected 
and equally defended. From this august body of men 
the President of the world and his cabinet would be 
chosen. His seat would be the "Seat of the Mighty" 
indeed. 

Fourth, a Supreme Court consisting of one man each 
from the Supreme Courts of each and every sovereign 
nation constituting the world unity, to comprise the 
Universal Supreme Court of Mankind. The most 
august body of men in the world into whose hands under 
the auspices of Divine Providence shall be committed 
in the last and final analysis the supreme constituted 
power and authority of mankind, from whose deliberate 
judgment lawful appeal may only be taken to Almighty 
God. 

Such a parliament would constitute a universal 
government, command the confidence and have 

[401 



The Philosopher 



the support of mankind. A Mandate issued by this 
Government would constitute an Edict which the good 
would willingly and the evil must perforce obey. It 
would sanction all international treaties before becom- 
ing effective. It would set legitimate bounds to the 
political aspirations and economic ambitions of any one 
or more nations or of the united nations of any one con- 
tinent. It would command and be obeyed by mankind. 
It would be so constituted, authorized and empowered 
that in the nature of human events its verdict on any 
one question would be essential "law and order," and, 
therefore, constitute the security and peace of the world. 

It is conceivable that questions and problems may 
arise in various nations which might not be satisfied by 
the decisions of mankind as expressed in the Universal 
Parliament, but it is inconceivable that any appeal to 
arms from the final decision of the Supreme Court of 
the World could ever hope to meet success, and, there- 
fore, we might rest assured that, granted such a govern- 
ment, mankind could reasonably hope for universal 
permanent peace. 

For purposes of imiversal protection and peace the 
world Government should own, possess and control the 
various coigns of vantage and strategic importance com- 
manding the approaches, entrance and exits of the Con- 
tinents, Harbors, and Bays of the principal Nations as 
affording means of defense, and by implication, offense, 
when necessary, to the united protection of mankind. 

Where all would benefit none could reasonably object, 
and the Nations now controlling such vantage points 
should willingly yield them to the Universal Govern- 
ment for the joint and mutual protection of all Nations 
what heretofore was deemed essential to the personal 
safety, defense and peace of individual governments. 

Such places of military strength and International 
importance as Gibraltar, Corsica, Malta, and the Suez 
Canal in the Mediterranean, the Kiel Canal and Heli- 
goland in the North Sea or German Ocean, the Dar- 
danelles and entrance and exits from the Mediterranean 
to the Black Sea, separating and uniting Europe and 

[411 



GEORGE MASON 



Asia, and the Straits of Magellan, Cape Horn, Cape of 
Good Hope, the Panama Canal and certain islands, 
headlands, capes, peninsulas and promontories in the 
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Northern and Southern 
Oceans, as most readily lend themselves to military 
strategy. All maritime nations in a state of peace 
would be entitled to their use and service. Only in 
times of war would belligerents be denied their use by 
the universal government. 

The earth belongs by right of eminent domain to all 
the people who live on it and not merely to some of the 
people. There are however civilized, semi-civilized, 
barbarous and savage nations, efficient, ineflScient and 
worthless peoples, progressive, backward, retrogressive 
and degenerate peoples, all have certain rights and 
privileges. All have certain duties, and all should be 
compelled to live up to their duties and responsibilities 
to others, and on this condition alone, should be en- 
titled to the exercise of their inalienable prerogatives. 
Ceasing to give they should cease to have. This is the 
fundamental law of creation. 

The world should have an international universal 
world maritime armament to police the seas, and pro- 
tect the combined interests of the entire world. The 
Navy of the earth should be under the control and man- 
agement of the World Parliament and its efficient heads 
should be selected from the great maritime powers. 
The world navy would be at home in all waters, and a 
visit of this universal power on the sea to any one nation 
would be prima faciae evidence that the particular nation 
visited was persona grata to the universal government. 

The naval power captured by the Allies from the 
Central Powers should become the nucleus of this inter- 
national na\y. Battleships, Dreadnaughts, Cruisers, 
Submarines, Submarine destroyers, Gunboats, Patrols, 
and the Air-craft, now in Allied hands would make a 
fine beginning to the naval strength and power of the 
world and it could be wisely increased by additions 
from time to time from the great naval powers until the 
world itself and its universal government possessed a 

[42] 



The Philosopher 



strength of defense and if necessary offense capable of 
resisting any possible hostile combination against the 
world, its peace and dignity. 

The armies of the world should be under one supreme 
council of military commanders, assembled from all the 
great nations, and power, dignity, authority and re- 
sponsibility apportioned pro rata to the ability and in- 
tegrity of the nations, and their records as observers of 
international peace and their national treaties, duties 
and obligations toward others. 

The armies of mankind would remain in their own 
national lands but their officers and commanders should 
be internationally trained and transferred from one na- 
tion to another, thereby becoming international officials 
able to command any one or more of the armies of the 
nations in times of war. During peace the different 
armies would be officered and commanded by their own 
national officials, with the visiting generals, com- 
manders and officers as honored guests and cadets in 
temporary command for the purpose of learning the 
military tactics and methods of training and efficiency 
in the different nations. 

The great Cantonments, Arsenals, Fortifications, 
Citadels and Armories of the world under international 
jurisdiction with the local nationals in charge, but in 
times of war not in command. The resources military 
of the whole world would be at the disposal of the su- 
preme government when occasion required to maintain 
peace and enforce law and order or chasten the delin- 
quent and bring them back to their national and 
international obligations. No nation so small, weak 
and insignificant but shall have peace with protection 
and none so great and powerful but shall be disciplined 
if necessary. On these terms and conditions alone we 
can have universal, permanent peace. 

For purposes of general utility, service and usefulness 
the world should make use of one selected language as 
the international speech of mankind. There need be 
no rivalry, still less jealousy and least of all fear. Here 
again, as in all other international concerns, efficiency 

[43] 



GEORGE MASON 



should govern and humanity should be willing to elect 
one of the great languages as a medium of universal 
communication and service. Where all would benefit 
none would or need be in doubt. 

The English language should be that tongue. It is 
well-nigh universal. It is the speech of commerce, 
business, finance and economics. It is the language of 
the travelled world. It commands a large portion of 
the human race as their mother tongue. It is spoken 
throughout the earth, contains all the elements of uni- 
versal application to the needs of humanity on its 
material plane, and is not difficult to learn. Like the 
people of this world it is progressive and aggressive, and 
contains the elements of fundamental world unity. 

There are languages more expressive of interior senti- 
ments and desires, more musical, literary, artistic, 
temperamental, idealistic, romantic, morahstic and 
beautiful, but taking into consideration all the facts of 
material civilization and the physical requirements of 
humanity on the external side of life, the English lan- 
guage, the development of a thousand years, contains 
the all in all of human requirements. It is the language 
par-excellent of material intellectual and rational truth, 
brief, pithy, succinct, to the point, and even in its 
idioms and common expressions it affords ample evi- 
dence of its superiority over other tongues in direct 
application. 

We confidently predict that within one hundred 
years the English language, willy nilly, will be the uni- 
versal tongue of the world, and all men will say when 
demanding action: "Fish or cut bait." 

Fundamentally the interests of mankind are identical 
and it is possible to so correlate and fraternize the hu- 
man race materially, economically and politically that 
another universal war will be a physical impossibility. 

Such a government is possible if the principles of 
"Federal Unity" now existing between the United States 
of America could be put into universal application among 
the nations of the earth. Questions of language, habits, 
customs, traditions, methods and modes of govern- 

[44] 



The Philosopher 



ment; environment and experience would all give way 
to mutual use and service among the nations. Not 
which is the greatest and most powerful, but which is 
the most useful would have preference and precedence 
among the nations. 

Such a government must have a source from whence 
it can radiate and to which all nations may look for 
redress of grievance. Its circumference would be the 
world as the sphere of its mental and moral activities 
would be universal. 

Its center should be that spot sacred above all others 
on earth where the "Moral Concept" of life and its 
duties found first and highest expression and fruition. 
That center should be Palestine, sacred to the Chris- 
tian, the Jewish and the Mohammedan world. 

Judea possesses no material resources to tempt 
cupidity, excite the lust of dominion or induce men to 
slay one another to Possess. It does own the riches of 
the mind and the treasures of the soul. There the 
Decalogue, the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord's 
Prayer descended out of heaven from God to bless 
mankind or else civilization is an idle dream. 

Greece created Art; Rome, Law and Order; Pales- 
tine, Religion and Morality. 

There the Prince of Peace lived and there He died 
that the world might have peace. There the Jew can 
look with reverence as to the homeland of his race, the 
glory of the patriarchs and of the prophets. There the 
Mohammedan world may gaze with reverence second 
only to that of Mecca and there the moral sentiments of 
Christendom gather around the feet of Christ. 

It is the land of the "Moral Concept," the spiritual 
home of the human race. Not my country, nor your 
country, but our country; not your government, nor 
my government, but our government. "Our God, our 
country, and our home" may find expression there. 

Jerusalem should be the moral peace center of the 
earth with the Decalogue once more restored to Mount 
Zion as the only infallible guide in international as in 
national and individual affairs. 

[45] 



GEORGE MASON 



If from this maelstrom of death and destruction there 
arise the governmental unity of mankind, the glori- 
ous manhood of America and of the world shall not have 
died in vain. 




40 



JERUSALEM, "THE CITY" 

Forsaken, fallen, desolate, abhorred, 

Remembered only in religious story; 
Disconsolate, abased, despised, ignored. 

Thou who wert once the Empress Queen of Glory. 

Prophets and Kings, Philosophers and Sages, 

Princes inspired with sacred allegory. 
Martyrs and Saints, God's witnesses through ages. 

Have fled to Heaven and left Thee old and hoary. 

Wlien Solomon reigned. Wisdom and Wealth abounded, 

Jehovah's temple stood on Zion's sacred bill. 
Incense arose, the Harp and Timbrel sounded. 

Warrior and Priest adored to learn God's Holy Will. 

Then men and angels from Thy holy places 
Held "High Converse" in Love and Wisdom grounded; 

Approved of God, anointed by His Graces, 
While Heaven and Earth with hallelujahs sounded. 

Then Zion's Maidens coy, with tresses braided, 
And Judah's youths, of noble, manly carriage. 

Thy Walls, O Zion, and Thy Courts paraded. 
Whispering of Heaven, and Home, and Love, and Marriage. 

Gone are Thy Priests, Thy Prophets have departed, 
Gone are Thy Kings, Thy Walls and Gates o'erthrown. 

Thy people wander, faint and weary-hearted, 
Forsaken, wretched, desolate, alone. 

Thy tabernacles have been desecrated. 

Mohammed rules where stood God's Holy Fane; 
Thy homes are gone, with Love once animated, 

Calvary alone remains, and Gethsemane. 

Jerusalem, Thy glory hath departed, 
The owls and bats forsake Thy crumbling walls 

Sackcloth and ashes for Thy sons, sore-hearted. 
Death and the grave brood o'er Thy vanished halls. 

Jerusalem, awake from slumber hoary. 
The Master calls His servants, bids them rise; 

Put on Thy garments, deck Thyself in glory; 
And bring to Earth a message from the skies. 



47] 



CORRESPONDENCE 



49 



Correspondence 



Richmond, Va., June 1, 1918. 
His Excellency, 

Honorable Woodrow Wilson, 

President of the United States, 

Executive Mansion, 

Washington, D. C. 

My Dear Mr. President: 

On behalf of the descendants of George Mason of Virginia, I 
desire to express our united appreciation of the honor you have 
conferred upon his old homestead and thereby his memory, by 
naming the first ship to be built at Alexandria, the "Gunston 
Hall." 

Very dear to his descendants is the memory of this distinguished 
ancestor. Morally beyond reproach; of unquestionable ability 
and unimpeachable integrity; free himself and wishing others the 
same moral blessing; seeking neither place nor applause and meet- 
ing all men on the basis of their mental and moral worth without 
regard to their political power, financial influence or social 
standing. 

The bosom friend, companion and lifelong confident of Wash- 
ington, he was worthy of that distinction. An obedient son, kind 
brother, affectionate father, loving and faithful husband, honored 
citizen, staunch patriot and able statesman, he was essential to 
his age and generation in the founding of a new nation. 

Mason created, Jefferson proclaimed, Marshall interpreted and 
Washington administered the principles established by the 
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United 
States. This entitles his name to immortaUty. 

His political sagacity discerned the future and predicted the 
Civil War. Had his judgment been acted upon how much wrath 
and violence would have been avoided. The honor you now 
confer upon his memory serves to renew the recollection of a 
worthy citizen, eminent patriot and profound statesman. 

Mr. President, I have the honor to remain. 

Very respectfully yours, 

[Signed] ROBERT C. MASON. 



[50 1 



Correspondence 



THE WHITE HOUSE 

WASHINGTON 



3 June, 1918 



Vy dear Mr. Mason: 

It was Mrs. Alison azid not I who 
cbose the name GUNSTM HALL for the ship about 
to be built at Alexandria, and I know that I 
can spes^ for her and say that she did it with 
a great deal of pleasure, being Just as glad 
as 1 would have been to honor indirectly the 
distinguished name of George Mason. 

May I not express my warm apprecia- 
tion of your kind letter of the first of June? 
Sincerely yours. 




Mr. Robert C. Mason, 
Richmond, Virginia. 

[51 



Correspondence 



Richmond, Va., June 7, 1918. 
His Excellency, 

Honorable Woodrow Wilson, 
President of the United States, 
Executive Mansion, 
Washington, D. C. 

My Dear Mr. President: 

Permit me to thank you for your very gracious answer to my 
recent letter in reference to naming the ship about to be built at 
Alexandria, the "Gunston Hall." 

Kindly express to Mrs. Wilson our appreciation of the honor she 
has accorded the memory of George Mason. 

Mr. President, I have the honor to remain, 

Very respectfully yours, 

(Signed) ROBERT C. MASON. 



52 




HONORABLE COLIN H. LIVINGSTONE. 



President, V'irginia Shipl)uilding Corporation; Vice-President of The 

American National Bank, Wasiiington, D. C; President of the 

National Council and Chairman of the Executive Board of the 

Boy Scouts of America. 



Correspondence 



Honorable Coun Livingstone, President: 

Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation, 

Alexandria, Va., 

June 9, 1918. 

My Dear Sir: 

Herewith I have the honor to present for the consideration and, 
I trust, approval of yourself and associates this Memorial upon 
the life and principles, moral and political, of George Mason, 
whose memory your Corporation has been pleased to revive by 
naming the first ship constructed in your yard at Alexandria, the 
"Gunston Hall" in honor of his old homestead on the Potomac, 
in Fairfax County, Virginia. 

Mount Vernon, the abode of Washington, Monticello, the resi- 
dence of Jefferson and Gunston Hall the home of Mason consti- 
tute the patriotic shrines of Virginia whereunto every lover of 
freedom when visiting the Old Dominion makes a pilgrimage to 
pay his debt of gratitude and offer his devotion upon those altars 
of hberty. In point of historic interest in the annals of our coun- 
try, those three homes take precedence over all others in America. 

Animated by the generous example of our President who drove 
the first rivet, encouraged by yourself and associates, the Theme 
approved by Statesmen and hterary men and my effort sanctioned 
by the good-will and pleasure of the various branches of our 
family, I have ventured upon this tribute to the name and memory 
of an illustrious American moralist, statesman and political 
philosopher to whom this country owes a boundless debt of 
gratitude. 

The privilege I have assumed is an honor and a responsibility. 
I am as sensilile of the one as conscious of the other and trust to 
discharge this duty with such fidelity to truthfulness that your 
leniency and the public grace will forget the faults and remember 
only the virtues of this Eulogy. 

There are many subjects of supreme interest in connection with 
the life and times of George Mason which cannot be commented 
upon in a work of this brevity. However, if within the limits as- 
signed I succeed in bringing before the public some few of the 
principles which inspired the life and ennobled the actions of this 
pre-eminent citizen of our revolutionary Epoch I shall deem 
myself amply rewarded. 

Wishing long life and prosperity to this noble ship, I have the 
honor to remain. 

Very respectfully yours, 

[Signed] ROBERT C. MASON. 



53 



Correspondence 



VIRGINIA SHIPBUILDING 
CORPORATION 

ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA 

Washington, D. C, June 12, 1918. 
Hon. R. G. Mason, 
Richmond, Va. 

Dear Mr. Mason: 

I am in receipt of your letter addressed to the President of the 
United States, requesting invitations be sent to yourself and other 
descendants of the Honorable George Mason, founder of Gunston 
Hall, Virginia, in whose honor the first steel freight steamship 
constructed at the Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation's shipyard 
at Alexandria, Va., has been named by the wife of the President 
of the United States, Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. 

It is with great pleasure that we shall extend to yourself and 
other members of the Mason family most cordial invitations to be 
present at the laimching of this ship, which we expect will take 
place sometime during the month of September of this year. 

It may interest you to know that the Hon. C. C. Carlin, Repre- 
sentative in Congress from the Alexandria District of Virginia, 
suggested that the first ship to be launched from our yard should 
be called either "George Mason" or "Gunston Hall," lea%dng the 
selection of the name to Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. Wilson chose " Guns- 
ton Hall," and so christened the keel, at the same time at which 
the President of the United States drove the first rivet. Mr. 
Carlin urged that no proper recognition had ever been made of 
Mr. Mason, who in our history should occupy a most distinguished 
place in consideration of his splendid qualities as a statesman and 
his connection with the Declaration of Independence, and other 
vitally important episodes in the early history of our coimtry. 
Let me suggest that I believe that Mr. Carlin would quite nat- 
xirally appreciate a letter from you in this connection. 

Yours very truly, 

[Signed] COLIN H. LIVINGSTONE. 



54 




BENJAMIN W. MORSE. 

Vice-President and General Manager of the Virginia Shipbuilding 
Corporation, Alexandria, Va., to whose ability and integrity is 
largely due the success attained by this financially powerful concern. 

Clinediast Studio, Washington. 



Correspondence 



Richmond, Va., June 26, 1918. 

Honorable C. C. Carlin, 

Representative in Congress, 

Alexandria District of Virginia, 
House of Representatives, 
Washington, D. C. 

My Dear Mr. Carlin: 

The honorable Colin H. Livingstone, President of the Virginia 
Shipbuilding Corporation, Alexandria, Virginia, has advised me 
that we are indebted to you for the suggestion of naming the first 
ship to be built in their yards, in memory of the old homestead of 
George Mason "Gunston Hall," and that it was at your request 
the wife of the President, Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, named the ship 
and the President himself drove the first rivet. 

Permit me to thank you for this timely remembrance of one of 
the most notable sons of Virginia, one to whom, under the aus- 
pices of Divine Providence we are indebted for much of the free- 
dom, under law and order, which our coimtry enjoys today. 

It is a privilege as well as a duty to write and sincerely thank 
you for the honor you have been instrumental in conferring upon 
the old homestead and thereby the memory of George Mason. 

I am sure I will be expressing the sentiments of aU the descend- 
ants of George Mason when I say that the honor now conferred 
upon his memory is most pleasing and grateful to us all. 

I have the honor to remain, 
Very respectfully yours, 

[Signed] ROBERT C. MASON. 



155 



Correspondence 



COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U. S^ 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

July 9, 1918. 
Robert C. Mason, Esq., 

Richmond, Va. 
My Dear Mr. Mason: 

This is the first opportunity I have had to reply to your letter. 
I approve heartily of the idea of having the Mason family attend 
the launching of the ship " Gunston Hall" at Alexandria. I look 
upon George Mason as the greatest of all Virginians and the 
naming of the ship by Mrs. Wilson was not only a compliment to 
your illustrious ancestor, but brought to the minds of the Ameri- 
can people the many splendid things for which he stood. 

With best wishes, I am, 

Very truly yours, 

[Signed] C. C. CARLIN. 



June 10, 1918. 
Mr. R. C. Mason, 

Richmond, Va. 

Dear Mr. Mason: 

Your letter of June 7 to President Wilson has been referred to 
me. I shall take pleasure in asking the Virginia Shipbuilding, 
Company, of Alexandria, to issue invitations to representatives 
of your family upon the occasion of the launching of the ship 
" Gunston Hall." I am sure they will be very glad to do this. 

Very truly yours, 
[Signed] EDWARD N. HURLEY, 

Chairman. 



56 



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W Y N K O O P 
HAL1£NBECK 
CRAWFORD 
COMPANY 
NEW YORK 




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